More Urban Recon

Mistwalker · Jul 30, 2009

Simultaneously reaching a stopping point on multiple projects, and having to run an errand downtown, today was a good day to stop for a good glass of iced tea and go for a walk along the river and just relax. So on a fifteen minute journey...back to Urbania I go.

Driving under one of the walking bridges I am about to cross on foot.

Parked beside the Bluffview Bakery....I love the smells from all of the Artisan breads baking. If I lived in Dr. Pitera's Bluff View residence...atop the bakery...it would drive me nuts. It is a nice house though with some really cool windows, I like the odd ones on the back of the house.

Once out of the parking lot and on the trail there was lots of local wildlife out and about.

Sat for a while and just watched the world go by for a few minutes...then decided to experiment a little. The damp materials I played with here only smoldered a little.

Mistwalker · Jul 30, 2009

I learned that even two lifeboat matches will not ignite a brazil nut in a slight breeze.

I checked out the Nashi Pears....this tree would probably put off some nice pears if it were trimmed back some.

The Magnolias are putting on seed pods.

I found a cut one that I am going to experiment with later.

I saw a different type of wild life as well. These guys were reconing the underside of the bridge I was standing on. Looking for shelter dark clouds moving in and what they could bring.

EmsRescueGuy · Jul 30, 2009

I bet those guys could teach some of us a thing or two about urban survival.

ZombaiO · Jul 30, 2009

The first 3 speciments of local wildlife are nice :thumbup:

Mistwalker · Jul 30, 2009

EmsRescueGuy said:
I bet those guys could teach some of us a thing or two about urban survival.

Probably so, I'd say they're well past basic...

ZombaiO said:
The first 3 speciments of local wildlife are nice :thumbup:

I thought so too....should have seen some that got away

Loosearrow · Jul 30, 2009

mistwalker said:
Probably so, I'd say they're well past basic...

I thought so too....should have seen some that got away

Just an observation about the pictures. The women seemed oblivious, maybe on phone, not aware of picture taking,people around them, etc. The men, although a group, seemed aware in all directions. I would also think taking pictures of the chicks, being observed, questioned by police, survival knife in pack, could cause problems. If the guys caught you, it might be worse. Nice pics. Just brings up another side to observation.

Katdaddy · Jul 30, 2009

EmsRescueGuy said:
I bet those guys could teach some of us a thing or two about urban survival.

Obviously not part of the ultra light crowd.

kgd · Jul 30, 2009

Loosearrow said:
I would also think taking pictures of the chicks, being observed, questioned by police, survival knife in pack, could cause problems. If the guys caught you, it might be worse. Nice pics. Just brings up another side to observation.

Paparazzi rules - if you are in a public place you cannot stop somebody from taking your picture. It is not illegal to take pictures outside of any subject, unless you are in front of a government building or in an airport where signs indicate it is illegal to do so.

The hobo shots were pretty neat. They seem pretty well equipped, but at the same time the shopping carts kind of limit their mobility and where they can scrounge. The scourge of collecting stuff - you need a place to put it all and you don't want to leave it anywhere unsecure for any amount of time.

GregB · Jul 30, 2009

I'm in a college town, so the backpack is the preferred method of transporting one's worldly possessions in these parts. Makes you much more mobile, IMHO, Also, it's a more rural area with less pavement.

GregB
BaconBeavers

chewbacca · Jul 30, 2009

Another great urban recon post.

Mistwalker · Jul 30, 2009

Loosearrow said:
Just an observation about the pictures. The women seemed oblivious, maybe on phone, not aware of picture taking,people around them, etc. The men, although a group, seemed aware in all directions. I would also think taking pictures of the chicks, being observed, questioned by police, survival knife in pack, could cause problems. If the guys caught you, it might be worse. Nice pics. Just brings up another side to observation.

Well...these aren't the first observation trips I've made there. In this particular area I really don't sweat anything. Rembrandt's is a coffee house in the art district where I have been a patron for about as long as it's been open. It has always been a three or four night a week thing to go get coffee there, and used to be my breakfast stop every morning after work before the lay-off. I am accepted as one of the features there now I suppose. I have been studying the plant life all along this seven mile stretch of the River Walk for some time. 1.5 miles down the walkway is U.T.C. so to anyone who doesn't already recognise me I am just another person with a lap top, a notebook, a camera, and a thermal glass. The girls do seem oblivious but they aren't nearly as close as they appear in these cropped shots. Tow of the three actually stopped to talk for a few minutes, the girl with the poodle is a sweetheart and really nice. To the "guys" I was probably just another tourist. The art district itself has an officer stationed there at all times but the one who is there most often knows me and what I do....we've talked a lot. The main thing is to just blend in.

Katdaddy said:
Obviously not part of the ultra light crowd.

Obviously lol, deffinitely urbanites.

kgd said:
Paparazzi rules - if you are in a public place you cannot stop somebody from taking your picture. It is not illegal to take pictures outside of any subject, unless you are in front of a government building or in an airport where signs indicate it is illegal to do so.

The hobo shots were pretty neat. They seem pretty well equipped, but at the same time the shopping carts kind of limit their mobility and where they can scrounge. The scourge of collecting stuff - you need a place to put it all and you don't want to leave it anywhere unsecure for any amount of time.

This is a tourist town, so a camera is nothing odd. Half the time if the girls notice that they might be in the picture I'm taking...I never aim directly at them as most of the time it's about environment not human subjects for me...they'll actually strike some "unnatural" pose.

That's what I was noticing. I was wandering how they were going to deal with getting the carts and the gear to where they were looking but about the time they were looking the police cars came flying by "lights and sirens" and they went on up the road.

GregB said:
I'm in a college town, so the backpack is the preferred method of transporting one's worldly possessions in these parts. Makes you much more mobile, IMHO, Also, it's a more rural area with less pavement.

GregB
BaconBeavers

That is the chosen method of moving gear for the ones I am observing down the road a ways from my house. They are camping along a swamp in some backwaters. But not a college type back pack.

chewbacca said:
Another great urban recon post.

Thanks man, glad you like the posts.

TheGame · Jul 30, 2009

Nice post. Some real urban-survivalist types there.

Now, I need to find where to find that quality of female species walking around here..

Mistwalker · Jul 30, 2009

TheGame said:
Nice post. Some real urban-survivalist types there.

Now, I need to find where to find that quality of female species walking around here..

That is actually a significant observation for me. In years past seeing an occasional single person pushing a cart down town was nothing new. This is my first spotting of homeless moving as a multi-person unit in convoy fashion, The fact that they had just pushed those buggies across the Veterans Bridge away from Coolidge park says something...I'm just not sure what yet till I go back into the woods over there. May have to go cookout some hotdogs or hamburgers at one of the permanent grills in the side area of the park, and take a good book and just sit and observe for a while this coming Saturday or Sunday.

Oh...there are a lot of them that quality around here, I love this town...I stuck the striker in my finger once when I looked up and got a little distracted by one girl asking me what I was doing.

sicily02 · Jul 30, 2009

Awesome pics Brian,
I to like the wildlife in the first few pics LOL. Well what is going on there to see that many homeless moving in convoy like that?

Hey I am going to be putting the Bright PINK LOL I mean Tan handles with black liners on that new full tang slicer

, Slanted guard

5.5" long blade

for you in little while

.
So you will be able to put that USAF knife that you keep in your pack in retirement in few days LOL.

Hey did you check out that MEGA Warthorn and the pics I posted of the spear and then fire and the trail, in that thread you started about your Warthorn knife?

Stay safe when you are taking pics of the Wild life with the packs they are carring and carts that they are pushing.

Bryan

Mistwalker · Jul 30, 2009

sicily02 said:
Awesome pics Brian,
I to like the wildlife in the first few pics LOL. Well what is going on there to see that many homeless moving in convoy like that?

Hey I am going to be putting the Bright PINK LOL I mean Tan handles with black liners on that new full tang slicer, Slanted guard 5.5" long blade for you in little while.
So you will be able to put that USAF knife that you keep in your pack in retirement in few days LOL.

Hey did you check out that MEGA Warthorn and the pics I posted of the spear and then fire and the trail, in that thread you started about your Warthorn knife?

Stay safe when you are taking pics of the Wild life with the packs they are carring and carts that they are pushing.

Bryan

Thanks, I really like checking out the wild life here

I'm not sure what's up, I've seen them gathered in numbers before but not moving like that. They were moving with a sense of urgency more so than I would expect due to the weather. It was almost as if they had been displaced. Maybe since there have been so many lay offs here and the town is relying on the tourism income the cops may be starting to get more protective of the woods around Coolidge Park...that is the direction they were coming from.

PINK

Nooooooooooo lol. Good glad to here it. This old USAF knife has been a good one and been through a lot with me but the edge geometry isn't the greatest for any "real" cutting.

Yes I did see the pics, great stuff! It makes me want one!!

I stay safe, I could get a lot more interesting pictures....but I have to remind myself that I am a father and have responsibilities that preclude taking certain risks.

Mistwalker · Jul 30, 2009

Loosearrow said:
I would also think taking pictures of the chicks, being observed, questioned by police, survival knife in pack, could cause problems. If the guys caught you, it might be worse. Nice pics. Just brings up another side to observation.

I know I already responded to this earlier but thought a little more about it. Yeah..., you have a point on some of that, but it's hard for me to live in an environment with so many potential REALLY BAD situations and not take certain basic precautions.

And this is what it looks like a lot of the time when they know I'm snapping pictures they are gonna be in and I get the "do me-do me" (her exact words and I had to bite my lip) ...she and I both got some funny looks from her boyfriend..nope, never seen her before in my life.

Loosearrow · Jul 31, 2009

mistwalker said:
I know I already responded to this earlier but thought a little more about it. Yeah..., you have a point on some of that, but it's hard for me to live in an environment with so many potential REALLY BAD situations and not take certain basic precautions.

And this is what it looks like a lot of the time when they know I'm snapping pictures they are gonna be in and I get the "do me-do me" (her exact words and I had to bite my lip) ...she and I both got some funny looks from her boyfriend..nope, never seen her before in my life.

The comments on the knife were only an after thought. I think you should carry whatever you want. Too bad others want you busted for what they think you might be thinking. I think the photos were good lessons on being aware of your surroundings. The different types of people, available food, possible threats. It would be interesting to talk to and learn from those that are homeless. Learn a few tricks of the trade from them. I have always been a people watcher. You almost develop a sixth sense about people when you watch them over the years. I spent 2 years in Hawaii and saw people from all over the world. You learn non verbal communication and can read people like a book. One of my favorite things to do is watch people and see what impressions I get. Thanks for the pics. Not all people have learned to "see". Regards.

Mistwalker · Jul 31, 2009

Not interested in going into the beginning of the story but starting at age fifteen I lived on the streets for nearly four years till I got my head back together. Observing people and the homeless in particular is nothing new for me it was once a necessity, I am just viewing it all from a different perspective now than I once had. The homeless numbers are growing, I am interested in how they are dealing with things now. I am curious as to what, if any, new techniques and methods for things have been developed, what new adaptations.

EMT_Lee · Jul 31, 2009

kgd said:
Paparazzi rules - if you are in a public place you cannot stop somebody from taking your picture. It is not illegal to take pictures outside of any subject, unless you are in front of a government building or in an airport where signs indicate it is illegal to do so.

The hobo shots were pretty neat. They seem pretty well equipped, but at the same time the shopping carts kind of limit their mobility and where they can scrounge. The scourge of collecting stuff - you need a place to put it all and you don't want to leave it anywhere unsecure for any amount of time.

While it may not be illegal, it certainly is creepy.

Jon Christ · Jul 31, 2009

Interesting recon, and some nice photography. :thumbup: Also I can't help but ask, what backpack are you using?